Sarries take Wasps down to go top

Mark McCall's side, still unbeaten both domestically and in Europe this season, enjoyed the better of the exchanges before the break but only led 6-3 at half time through two Farrell penalties to Jimmy Gopperth's one.

Wasps threatened upon the restart and got back onto level terms, but Farrell and Taylor combined exquisitely for the two quickfire tries on the hour that ultimately settled the game.

Frank Halai hit back but it was too little too late for Wasps, who nevertheless came the first side to score a try at home to Saracens in 2015/16.

It was one of the clashes of the round – a Wasps side that have crushed European heavyweights Toulon and Leinster already this season, up against the unbeaten Saracens.

And it was the away side that burst out of the traps fastest, Farrell knocking over the simplest of penalties after Wasps were pinged for offside.

Both sides continued to feel each other out with ball in hand, but Saracens asserted some push at the scrum and Farrell blasted over another three-pointer once a penalty was awarded.

Farrell continued to dictate the flow of the game with his kicking while Wasps fly-half Gopperth was yet to find his range, though the New Zealander did force Billy Vunipola to cough off the ball after giving possession away cheaply.

But the closest Sarries came to the tryline was when Alex Goode could not quite direct the ball to Chris Wyles on the sideline – and with half an hour already gone Wasps finally got a sighter at goal.

After Vunipola failed to roll away at the tackle, Gopperth reduced Sarries' lead to three and an another penalty in the 35th minute handed Wasps the chance to level up the scores.

The big boot of Elliot Daly, from some 55 metres out, just about had the range but not the accuracy as Wasps went in at the half three points behind.

But though Saracens had much of the play in the first half, the home side had dug in and within five minutes of the restart Daly spliced the posts from halfway following an offside call.

Farrell hit back from the tee almost immediately after, yet Wasps were beginning to stretch their legs and Charles Piutau produced a big break that ultimately came to nothing.

Gopperth's boot then brought the West Midlands side level once again but the pendulum well and truly swung Saracens' way just before the hour.

Taylor picked a scything line off a pass from Farrell – who then arced around to play the decoy – and the Scotland centre turned on the jets to canter over the line.

Roles reversed just three minutes later as, after a fortunate deflection from a kick forward, Taylor gathered in and offloaded to a tryline-bound Farrell.

Farrell converted both and Saracens had suddenly stretched their lead to 14 points – with only the final quarter left to go it was looking ominous for Wasps.

Chris Ashton and Goode nearly helped produce another try but Saracens were happy to settle for any points on offer, and Farrell added another three to his impressive tally in the 72nd minute.

Wasps did get a consolation after Saracens lost possession deep in opposition territory however, as a flowing move ended with Halai racing over.

The scorers:

For Wasps:

Try: Halai

Con: Gopperth

Pens: Gopperth 2, Daly

For Saracens: 

Tries: Taylor, Farrell

Cons: Farrell 2

Pens: Farrell 4

Teams:

Wasps: 15 Rob Miller, 14 Frank Halai, 13 Elliot Daly, 12 Alapati Leiua, 11 Charles Piutau, 10 Jimmy Gopperth, 9 Dan Robson, 8 Guy Thompson, 7 Thomas Young, 6 James Haskell (captain), 5 James Gaskell, 4 Joe Launchbury, 3 Lorenzo Cittadini, 2 Ashley Johnson, 1 Matt Mullan.

Replacements: 16 Edd Shervington, 17 Simon McIntyre, 18 Phil Swainston, 19 Bradley Davies, 20 Sam Jones, 21 Joe Simpson, 22 Ruaridh Jackson, 23 Sailosi Tagicakibau.

Saracens: 15 Alex Goode, 14 Chris Ashton, 13 Duncan Taylor, 12 Brad Barritt, 11 Chris Wyles, 10 Owen Farrell, 9 Richard Wigglesworth, 8 Billy Vunipola, 7 Will Fraser, 6 Michael Rhodes, 5 George Kruis, 4 Maro Itoje, 3 Petrus Du Plessis, 2 Jamie George, 1 Mako Vunipola.

Replacements: 16 Schalk Brits, 17 Richard Barrington, 18 Juan Figallo, 19 Jim Hamilton, 20 Kelly Brown, 21 Ben Spencer, 22 Charlie Hodgson, 23 Marcelo Bosch.

Referee: JP Doyle

Assistant Referees: Simon McConnell, Roger Baileff

TMO: Trevor Fisher

Bath 21-14 Worcestor Warriors

Bath moved back into the top half of the Premiership table with a hard-fought 21-14 win over Worcester Warriors at the Rec.

First-half scores from Ollie Devoto and Horacio Agulla allowed Bath to open up a 15-11 lead at the break, with Cooper Vuna crossing for the visitors.

And the second half was much tighter with defences dominating as two Rhys Priestland penalties proved enough for the win.

Bath burst out of the blocks and took the lead in the 11th minute thanks to a try from Devoto.

After a powerful scrum, Chris Cook put the pressure on Jonny Arr and Guy Mercer was able to steal the ball. It was then spread the ball to Devoto for the score. Priestland, who had missed an earlier penalty, converted to make it 7-0.

Worcester responded immediately, earning a penalty from the restart, and former Bath flyhalf Tom Heathcote got his team on the board.

Priestland hit back with a first penalty of the afternoon for the home side, but again Worcester were able to respond straightaway, this time from longer distance through Ryan Mills.

The visitors had the chance to cut the deficit but Heathcote was off-target just before the half-hour.

They were soon in front though after scoring their first try of the afternoon. After a couple of good charges from the forwards, Worcester chose to spread the ball, and following a Wynand Olivier run, he then worked the two-on-one and Vuna went over in the corner. Heathcote couldn't convert but Worcester led 11-10.

A powerful scrum from Worcester gave the visitors a final chance of a score to end the half, but instead of taking the points, they chose to kick to the corner.

Niall Annett's throw wasn't straight though and the chance went begging, allowing Bath to relieve the pressure.

And with time running out in the first half, Bath made them pay thanks to their Pumas winger Agulla. He collected the ball out wide from Jonathan Joseph and forced his way over in the corner despite the best attentions of Chris Pennell. Priestland's touchline conversion was off-target but Bath led 15-11 at the break.

Bath built on that try at the start of the second half with another Priestland penalty, but that was quickly cancelled out by Heathcote.

The home side rung the changes on the hour, bringing on the likes of George Ford and Anthony Watson, but lost Dave Attwood just ten minutes after he'd come on.

Still, they were edging the territory battle, and when the Warriors slowed the ball down following another attack, Priestland stretched the lead to a converted try at 21-14.

Bath had the chance to kill off the game, but instead of taking an easy three points, chose to kick to the corner with seven minutes remaining.

Like Worcester in the first half, it didn't pay off and in fact gave the Warriors the chance to go back up the other end.

However they couldn't find a way through and Bath held on for an invaluable win.

The scorers:

For Bath:

Tries: Devoto, Agulla

Con: Priestland

Pens: Priestland 3

For Worcestor Warriors:

Try: Vuna

Pens: Heathcote 2, Mills

Teams:

Bath: 15 Tom Homer, 14 Semesa Rokoduguni, 13 Jonathan Joseph, 12 Ollie Devoto, 11 Horacio Agulla, 10 Rhys Priestland, 9 Chris Cook, 8 David Denton, 7 Guy Mercer (captain), 6 Leroy Houston, 5 Charlie Ewels, 4 Matt Garvey, 3 Henry Thomas, 2 Ross Batty, 1 Max Lahiff.

Replacements: 16 Tom Dunn, 17 Nick Auterac, 18 David Wilson, 19 Dave Attwood, 20 Francois Louw, 21 Niko Matawalu, 22 George Ford, 23 Anthony Watson.

Worcester Warriors: 15 Chris Pennell, 14 Bryce Heem, 13 Wynand Olivier, 12 Ryan Mills, 11 Cooper Vuna, 10 Tom Heathcote, 9 Jonny Arr, 8 Phil Dowson (captain), 7 Sam Betty, 6 Matt Cox, 5 Darren Barry, 4 Tevita Cavubati, 3 Nick Schonert, 2 Niall Annett, 1 Na'ama Leleimalefaga.

Replacements: 16 Ben Sowrey, 17 Val Rapava Ruskin, 18 Joe Rees, 19 Donncha O'Callaghan, 20 Marco Mama, 21 Charlie Mulchrone, 22 Andy Symons, 23 Tom Biggs.

Referee: Thomas Foley

Assistant Referees: Paul Dix, Craig Maxwell-Keys

TMO: Stuart Terheege

Harlequins 39-39 Gloucester

Nick Evans failed with a last-gasp drop goal attempt as Harlequins and Gloucester could not be separated in a thrilling ten-try game at Twickenham.

Gloucester led 17-15 at half-time thanks to tries from Jeremy Thrush and James Hook, with Harlequins replying through scores for Marland Yarde and Danny Care.

And this see-saw affair continued after the break as two Henry Trinder interception tries and scores for Nick Easter and Ross Chisholm in reply saw the sides locked at 29-29 after an hour.

Shortly afterwards Laidlaw nudged the Cherry and Whites back in front with a penalty before Cook scored a superb solo try to put Gloucester in control heading into the final ten minutes.

But an Evans penalty and conversion from a second Chisholm score saw the teams locked at 39-39 apiece heading into the closing stages, the Kiwi No.10 just wide with a drop goal attempt with seconds left as they couldn't be separated.

Gloucester headed to Twickenham knowing they had lost their last six games at the famous stadium, but started on the front foot as Billy Twelvetrees almost got on the end of a Hook kick into the Quins in-goal area.

But they did grab the first try after seven minutes after Mike Brown fumbled a high ball under pressure from Charlie Sharples and the ball eventually found its way to the latter on the right wing with Thrush hacking on and grounding for his first ever Premiership try.

Greig Laidlaw added the conversion but five minutes later Harlequins were also on the board thanks to a Evans penalty.

And five minutes after that Harlequins were in front as they spread the ball wide out right and the England wing was on hand to dot down in the corner, flyhalf Evans just wide with the tough conversions.

But Gloucester weren't about to give up and after Laidlaw had kicked them back in the lead, after James Horwilll was offside, the Cherry and Whites were celebrating a second try after half an hour.

It all started with Harlequins looking to break from deep as Yarde broke away, but Matt Kvesic turned the ball over and Hook ran clear to touch down, Laidlaw converting from wide out on the right.

But again Harlequins went up the other end and replied following some patience play, Care darting over following a impressive line from Jamie Roberts.

Evans converted to bring his tally of points this Premiership season to 100 and brings Harlequins to within two points of Gloucester at half-time, although it could have been much worse for the outfit from The Stoop as Laidlaw was wide with a last-gasp penalty attempt after Chris Robshaw had been pinged.

After the break Harlequins looked to regain the lead as George Lowe broke clear, but as they tried to recycle the ball out to the left wing Trinder stole in and ran 80m to score, Laidlaw adding the simple conversion.

Harlequins hit back again, first with Evans and Care breaking down the middle to enable Easter to barge his way over.

And then a great run from Roberts passed Thrush saw him offload to Brown, who in turn set up Chisholm to race over for the Quins bonus point, Evans with the conversion for a 29-24 lead.

But another Trinder interception try – which saw him hobble over the tryline through injury – brought Gloucester back level before Laidlaw hit the left upright with the conversion.

Shortly after the hour mark Chisholm failed to release and Laidlaw put Gloucester back in front with a penalty, and Hook thought he moved the Cherry and Whites further ahead only for the play to be called back for a knock on after Sharples had beaten Evans in a race to a ball over the Harlequins defence.

But on 68 minutes Cook found himself under a Brown kick and stepped by would be tacklers to find his way over the whitewash.

Laidlaw added the extras to hand Gloucester a ten-point lead, but almost immediately Harlequins reduced the arrears with an Evans penalty in front of the posts.

And Evans held his nerve again from a touchline conversion to level the scores at 39-39 with two minutes left after Chisholm had barged his way over on the left wing.

But the veteran couldn't win it for his side as he saw his last-gasp drop goal sail agonisingly wide.

The scorers:

For Harlequins:

Tries: Yarde, Care, Easter, Chisholm 2

Cons: Evans 4

Pens: Evans 2

For Gloucester:

Tries: Thrush, Hook, Trinder, 2, Cook

Cons: Laidlaw 4

Pens: Laidlaw 2

Teams:

Harlequins: 15 Mike Brown, 14 Marland Yarde, 13 George Lowe, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 Tim Visser, 10 Nick Evans, 9 Danny Care (captain), 8 Nick Easter, 7 Jack Clifford, 6 Chris Robshaw, 5 Charlie Matthews, 4 James Horwill, 3 Will Collier, 2 Dave Ward, 1 Joe Marler.

Replacements: 16 Rob Buchanan, 17 Mark Lambert, 18 Kyle Sinckler, 19 George Merrick, 20 Luke Wallace, 21 Karl Dickson, 22 Ben Botica, 23 Ross Chisholm.

Gloucester: 15 Rob Cook, 14 Charlie Sharples, 13 Billy Meakes, 12 Billy Twelvetrees, 11 Jonny May, 10 James Hook, 9 Greig Laidlaw (captain), 8 Ben Morgan, 7 Matt Kvesic, 6 Sione Kalamafoni, 5 Mariano Galarza, 4 Jeremy Thrush, 3 John Afoa, 2 Richard Hibbard, 1 Paddy McAllister. 

Replacements: 16 Darren Dawidiuk, 17 Dan Murphy, 18 Paul Doran-Jones, 19 Tom Savage, 20 Jacob Rowan, 21 Willi Heinz, 22 Billy Burns, 23 Henry Trinder.

Referee: Wayne Barnes

Assistant Referees: Gregory Garner, Wayne Falla

TMO: Graham Hughes